Chocolate Love at Finca de Cacao La PruVite
Cacao is one of the newest agricultural crops here in Puerto Rico, and we enjoy going on cacao farm tours and learning about the origins of chocolate. Finca de Cacao La PruVite, located in Luquillo, offers a tasty, educational tour of a small, family-run, organic cacao farm.
The owner, Virgen Torres, grows her cacao trees from seeds, nurtures them to fruiting size, and then uses every part of the harvested fruit. She personally gave us a tour of the family farm, and an explanation of the whole process she uses to turn the cacao beans into chocolate. Unsurprisingly, we fell in love with all her home-made artisan chocolate products.
Our Tour
Virgen explained the different types of cacao varieties that she has, the different trees’ growing habits, how to grow them, and how to harvest the cacao pods. She even opened a a freshly-picked pod so we could taste the fruit around the seed. Virgen really is passionate about growing cacao, and wants to share her knowledge and experience with others – especially the kids!
Once back at the work area, she showed the different areas where she processes the beans – from the fermenting, to drying, to roasting, to removing the chaff, to grinding – all the way to edible chocolate. This is a small operation, and you can see some of the “old fashioned” equipment that is used to process the beans. Of course, she has some of the newer equipment used to process the dried nibs into smooth chocolate. Virgen also explains the tempering of the chocolate, which is needed to give her delicious, home-made chocolate bars the crisp snap when you bite into them.
Virgen does not rush you out after the tour. You are welcome to stay and chat, enjoy the hammocks, eat, drink, and relax. She has a little outdoor cafe there where she makes and sells some amazing chocolate goodies. The tour gives you a taste of some of the yummy treats. I fell in love with the passion fruit-filled chocolate candies, which was only one of a number of different types of bonbons available. She also has yummy chocolate cakes, candies, shakes, hot chocolate, etc – all home-made right there. She can also make sugar-free treats with advanced notice. There are also other cacao-based products, like jellies and spreads, soaps, and creams, available for purchase.
Details
The tours are very inexpensive and include a number of samples and tastings, a bottle of water. Payment cash or Paypal. Additional chocolates, snacks or drinks are available for sale between 1-3pm.
Tours to visitors are offered Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tours are 10 am in Spanish and/or English and 4 pm English. Tours available for local school groups – contact them for info. Reservations are required for tours.
For the farm tour, the ground is uneven and may be muddy or slippery. Take that into consideration and wear appropriate shoes and physical ability.
The tour can be in Spanish, or English. If you need more English, make sure to tell them that when you make your reservation. Also check age for children .
The farm tour takes about 1.25 hrs.
Call or text 787-710-5619 for reservations or more information. You can also email her cacaolapruvite@gmail.com.
You can get more information on their Facebook page.
You can buy her pre-made candy at the farm. She can make sugar-free treats with prior notice. She also sells some of her non-perishable cacao products at the Luquillo farmers’ market.
Finca de Cacao La PruVite is located in Luquillo, on Carr 988 KM 12.3.
Click on a placename below to view the location on Google Maps ...
PuertoRicoDayTrips.com assumes no responsibility regarding your safety when participating in the activities described in this article. Please use common sense! If your mother or that little voice in your head tells you that you are about to do something stupid … then don't do it!
